Sandy's Spiel Tip-Off Classic Boys Top Performers
Analysis

Sandy’s Spiel Tip-Off Classic Boys Top Performers


PRO Movement
Store Banner

Putnam County 73
Union County 70

Landon Bonner2024 6-0 G Landon Bonner – Putnam County
Trailing Union County 59-46 heading into the fourth quarter, I knew and of course Landon Bonner knew that the game was far from over. Bonner erupted for 19 points in the final stanza, stunning the Panthers for a 73-70 win. The War Eagles cranked up the heat with the full court press forcing turnovers and getting the ball in Bonner’s hands in transition. Landon scored seven baskets in the open floor over the course of the game. He used his fast-twitch quickness to shiftily get downhill and power into the chest of defenders while exploding up to finish, taking advantage of Union County’s lack of rim protection. Once Bonner caught fire, everything started to click. He drilled three three-pointers in the fourth quarter highlighted by a deep go-ahead dagger with :39 seconds left to take a 71-70 lead after not making one the prior three periods. Bonner’s aggressive mindset and wired-to-score skillset makes him one of the top scorers in the state in Class 2A. No lead is safe when Bonner is on the floor. Landon poured in 34 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 5 steals. JUCOs should check in along with smaller programs.

Houston Henry2025 6-0 PG Houston Henry – Union County
Though the fourth quarter was a nightmare for the Panthers, Houston Henry was still simply brilliant throughout the game. He had complete control of the action, everything running through him. It felt as if Henry created every single scoring opportunity for the Panthers. Houston craftily used his body, sometimes toying with defenders to get them to step the wrong way so he could cut them off, throw his shoulder into their chest and accel to the basket. Houston implemented hesitation dribbles to freeze the defense when getting downhill. He scored with both hands through contact and went 7-8 from the line. Henry made everyone around him better with his savvy court vision. He knew exactly where his shooters would be and where they best liked to catch the ball. Overall, it was a true masterclass performance from Henry who finished with a dazzling 20 points, 6 rebounds, 11 assists and 5 steals. NAIA, D-III and possibly even D-II schools should all be in play by this time next year.

Allatoona 101
Chestatee 73

Dean Soulsby2025 6-2 G Dean Soulsby – Allatoona
Allatoona broke the scoreboard in their 101-73 win over Chestatee. Dean Soulsby set the tone early and further established himself as one of Georgia’s premier shooters in the 2025 class. Soulsby sank three threes in the first quarter and six for the game as he notched a team-high 23 points, 7 rebounds and 1 assist. Dean is dangerous from almost anywhere past halfcourt with deep range. He’s a knockdown shooter off the catch, but has shown he can get his shot off off the dribble as well when needed. Adding to his game as a driver will help build Soulsby’s stock, one that will likely interest D-III programs.

Matthew McAuley2025 5-9 PG Matthew McAuley – Allatoona
I saw the very best out of Matthew McAuley on Saturday. The undersized floor general played with a bounce in his step, consistently able to get to his spots. McAuley never got flustered by the Chestatee defense and headily surveyed the floor to find options whether as a scorer or distributor. Matthew has a smooth jumper and a high floater to get over shot blockers. McAuley recorded 19 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal.

Lewis Nganga2025 5-11 G Lewis Nganga – Allatoona
Lewis was the third head of the Buccaneer attack. He broke out with 16 second half points to turn a 43-36 halftime advantage into a 72-54 lead after three quarters and a 101-73 rout at the final buzzer. Lewis did a nice job finding cracks in the defense, quickly getting into the paint. He scored through contact with an And-1, converted a putback, hit a mid-range jumper, a three-pointer and scored in transition over his diverse offensive performance. Nganga closed with 20 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals, firing on all cylinders.

Colton Wilbanks2024 6-5 F Colton Wilbanks – Chestatee
As always, Colton Wilbanks was a major bright spot for the War Eagles. The high energy forward ran the floor for dunks and scored around the rim with putbacks. Wilbanks drilled a pair of corner threes, his shot looking much more fluid and natural than last season. Colton’s relentless motor can never be unplugged. He is a sure bet to pencil in big numbers every game whether it be scoring, rebounding or both. Wilbanks dumped in 35 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 1 block against Allatoona. D-III programs have started to take notice of Hall County’s finest, Piedmont offering back in September.

Athens Academy 48
New Hampstead 46

Kymel Williams2024 6-1 PG Kymel Williams – Athens Academy
In what was a tight game throughout, Kymel Willams made the plays necessary to lift Athens Academy past New Hampstead 48-46. Williams’ impact was felt when the ball was in his hands. The physically explosive lead guard made plays downhill. Kymel muscled his way through contact to convert And-1 opportunities and liked to use his spin move to free himself from defenders before erupting toward the basket or pulling up from the mid-range. Kymel nailed a pull-up three and made money at the foul line, shooting 6-9. Williams finished with 15 points, 6 rebounds and 1 assist. Kymel has the physical tools to attract college coaches and a strong all-around floor game to boot. D-I offers haven’t quite materialized, making him a strong candidate for D-II programs.

Justen Goudelock2024 6-3 W Justen Goudelock – Athens Academy
Justen has an old man game – and that’s a compliment. After hearing from a rival coach that Goudelock was “one of the best high school scorers I have ever coached against,” I was eager to see what the fuss was about. While it wasn’t a high-octane offensive game for Athens Academy, you could still see why Justen has been earning rave reviews. Goudelock is a big bodied wing that plays at his own pace. He’s not overly athletic like Kymel Williams, but he’s smooth and understands what works for him. Justen has a pretty jumper, knocking down a pair of threes on Saturday. He’s a threat when placed in the high post, coolly identifying the defense and using head fakes to get the defender in the air before scooting to the basket. Defensively, Justen stepped in to take a charge and got his hands on shots inside. Goudelock fouled out with 33.4 seconds remaining, managing 10 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist and 3 blocks while battling fouls. Goudelock is fun to watch. I think a school with the right style of play can view Justen as a good fit at the next level.

2025 5-8 PG Antoine Youmans – New Hampstead
I love the energy Antoine Youmans provides New Hampstead. He is the Energizer Bunny on the floor, a pass-first point guard that will do the dirty work to ensure his team is running smoothly. The little lefty is an active on-ball defender that knocks loose steals. Antoine crashes the glass hard and ignites fastbreaks with quick pushes up the floor. While he may not put up too many robust scoring outputs on a team that has plenty of options, don’t underestimate the value Youmans has for the Phoenix. Antoine tallied 5 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals and 1 block in a 48-46 loss to Athens Academy.

AJ Williams2027 6-2 G AJ Williams – New Hampstead
The freshman showed glimpses of high long-term upside, posting 9 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals. Williams has a strong basketball IQ. He sees the floor well and understands there is more to the game than just trying to score the ball. AJ is still shedding some baby fat but manages to use his strength to his advantage when rebounding and absorbing contact while getting to the rim. AJ netted a pair of threes against Athens Academy. His footwork off the ball looked good, curling from the left wing to the top of the key to nail a three-pointer off the catch. New Hampstead will be a scary team once their football players return. The Phoenix are deep, experienced and have a potential X-Factor in Williams who will only get better as the season wears on.